KABUL: The agreement has been signed among Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Iran on a transit railway link connecting Iran and China and its large portion will pass through six different Afghan provinces.
Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Public Works, Noor Gul Mangal, has promoted the project as a crucial step toward enhancing Afghanistan’s transit and commerce ties with other regional nations, which would ultimately benefit the economy.
The full length of the rail passage is expected to be 2,100 kilometers, of which 148 kilometers will pass through the six Afghan provinces of Kunduz, Balkh, Jawozjan, Faryab and Badghis.
“From an economic perspective, this has the potential for major economic and social benefits to Afghanistan,” Mr. Mangal said.
The rail construction is part of the broader Silk Road project being funded by the Asian Development Bank and Bank of China. In line with the multi-lateral agreement, the five signatory countries that will be cooperating on the project are obliged complete technical and economic assessments for the by mid 2016.
